Iontophoretic material containing carbon and metal granules

Abstract

A material is provided that uses controlled electrical current derived from two dissimilar galvanic materials to drive oligodynamic metal ions into solution. Exemplary materials include carbon and silver.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A material comprising: a base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;   a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and   a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material,   such that the metal granules release a biologically effective iontophoretic flow of metal ions without application of electrical power when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.   
     
     
       2. The mate rial of claim 1, wherein the base material is conductive. 
     
     
       3. The material of claim 1, wherein the base material is ion permeable. 
     
     
       4. The material of claim 1, wherein the base material is substantially transparent and wherein the plurality of carbon and the metal granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material. 
     
     
       5. The material of claim 1, further comprising pigment in the base material. 
     
     
       6. The material of claim 5, wherein the base material is an ink. 
     
     
       7. The material of claim 1, wherein the plurality of metal granules consist of silver granules. 
     
     
       8. A material consisting of: an ion permeable base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;   a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and   a plurality of silver granules distributed in the base material,   such that a biologically effective iontophoretic flow of metal ions is spontaneously released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.   
     
     
       9. A material comprising: a substantially transparent base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;   a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and   a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material, wherein the plurality of metal granules and the plurality of carbon granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material   wherein the predetermined pattern includes alpha-numeric characters, and   wherein metal ions are released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.   
     
     
       10. A material comprising: a substantially transparent base material capable of being transitioned from a flowable state to a non-flowable state;   a plurality of carbon granules distributed in the base material; and   a plurality of metal granules distributed in the base material, wherein the plurality of metal granules and the plurality of carbon granules are distributed in a predetermined pattern in the base material   wherein the predetermined pattern includes measurement indicia, and   wherein metal ions are released from the material when the material is exposed to an electrolytic solution.